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(No Model.)

1?. G. NIGODEMUS & A. K. WEEKS.

PROUESSING APPARATUS.

No. 251,456. Patented Dec. 27,1881.

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INVENTORS. 1% AQ'a wdmW.

WITNESSES- ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT Farce;

FRANK G. NIUODEMUS AND A. KIRKLAND WEEKS, OF BALTlMORE,-MD.

PROCESSING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,456, dated December27, 1881.

Application filed November 1, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK G. NIooDEMUs and A. KIRKLAND WEEKS, both ofBaltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Processing Apparatus and we hereby declare the same tobe fully, clearly, and exactly described as follows, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central verticallongitudinal sectional view of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is across-sectional view of the same.

Our invention relates to heating apparatus designed for the treatment ofcanned provisions in what is technically known as processing. This stepconsists in cooking or heating the sealed cans, and has heretoforegenerally been done by immersing the cans in boiling chloride-of-calciumsolution. The temperature of the bath being in excess of 212Fahrenheitthe normal boiling-point-a considerable bursting effort wasexerted upon the walls of the cans, which resulted in the destruction ofmany cans and the contamination of the bath by their contents. To remedythis various forms of processkettle were devised, operating upon theprinciple of subjecting the cans to external pressure to counteract thebursting pressure from within. Our present invention belongs to thislatter class, and in some respects is in the nature of an improvementupon that for which Letters Patent were granted to Frank G. Nicodemus,May 10, 1881, No. 241,405; and it has for its object to economize steam,to facilitate the insertion and removal of the crates of cans, and toincrease generally the efficiency of the apparatus.

In the drawings, A is a cylindrical boiler, having tubes a a and steam-drum B, of. the usual form.

H is the grate, and fthe stack, the flames and products of combustiontaking the course indicated by the arrows.

The drum B has a man-hole and plate I), whereby access may be had to theinterior of the boiler to clean it. A steam-pipe, 0, leads from the drumB into the chamber 0, which is mounted upon and extends down into theboiler, as shown, and is provided with ahinged lid, G, clamp e,steam-gage E, thermometer e,

andgage-cock F. At its bottom is a casing having a perforated lid, D,under which the steam-pipe 0 opens.

I is a water-back, having pipes t 17 leading to the capping orscaldingtauks, as described in the Letters Patent above referred to.

The entire device is mounted in a suitable structure of masonry, h,wherein it is supported by lateral lugs g.

In operation the lid is raised and the crates of cans are lowered withinthe chamber 0, where they may rest either directly upon the plate D oron suitable lugs bolted to the walls of the chamber. The lid is thenlowered and clamped tightly, and the cock 0 is opened, admitting steamto the chamber 0. The gagecock'F is raised to permit of the expulsion ofthe air, and is closed as soon as steam appears. The cans are left inthe vessel for a length of time determined by the temperature of thesteam and the nature of the contents of the cans, when the cock 0 isclosed and the gagecock is opened, allowing the steam to escapegradually, and, after equilibrium of pressure isattained, permitting theingress of air to compeusateforcondensation. Thelidis finally raised andthe crates removed to give place to others, when the operation isrepeated.

I Instead of a gage-cock, a simple check-valve having means for liftingit from without, or a common faucet, may be used. In any case it shouldbe located near the top of the chamber.

The perforated plate D serves to check the inrush of steam when the cock0 is opened.

A pipe, 0, for blowing oil any condensed water, leads to a point nearthe bottom of the chamber, and is furnished exteriorly with a cock, (I.

Thedeviceis of such construction as to adapt for its manufacture oldlocomotive or other tubular boilers, which, while considered no longersafe to carry two hundred pounds of steam, would have ample strength forthe pur- 0, the chamber G, having hinged or removable IO lid, and clamp12, escape and air cock F, and pipe 0, as set forth.

F. (l. NIOODEMUS. A. KIRKLAND WEEKS.

Witnesses:

R. D. WILLIAMS, J NO. '1. MADDOX.

